# discriminating

/dɪsˈkɹɪməˌneɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /dɪskɹˈɪmɪnˌeɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discriminating
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. having good taste

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having excellent taste and the ability to judge the quality of something accurately.

For teachers: possessing or showing refined judgment and the ability to perceive fine distinctions in quality or style.

- A discriminating collector only buys the finest examples of modern art.
- The boutique caters to a discriminating clientele who value artisanal craftsmanship over mass-produced luxury goods.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. able to see small differences

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

able to see or notice small differences between similar things.

For teachers: capable of making precise distinctions between similar stimuli or concepts.

- The test is discriminating enough to find tiny errors in the software.
- The study required a highly discriminating method of analysis to separate the various chemical isotopes present in the sample.

### 3. treating people unfairly

verb · CEFR B2

treating a person or group worse than others because of their skin colour, gender, or age.

For teachers: the act of making an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people.

- The company was accused of discriminating against older workers during the layoffs.
- International law prohibits discriminating against individuals based on their religious beliefs or ethnic background.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'against'.

## Examples

- The shop caters to discriminating customers who want high quality.
- A discriminating reader will notice the subtle differences in style between the two authors.
- Even a discriminating eye might struggle to distinguish the high-quality reproduction from the original oil painting without the aid of a magnifying lens.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.